Percussion-fuse for projectiles



E. SCHNHDER. l

PERCUSSION FUSE FOR PROJECTILES.

APPLICATION men :uw 21.1920.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

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E. SCHNEIDER.

PERCUSSION FUSE FOR PROJECTILES. APPLICATION men JuLY21. '920.

1 352, 54:3 Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

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EUGENE SCHNEIDER, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO SCHNEIDER & CIE., PARIS,

FRANCE, A LIMITED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY OF FRANCE. i

PERCUSSION-FUSE FOR PRDJ'ECTILES.

Specication of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

Original application filed March 31, 17919, Serial No. 286,489. RenewedJuly 21, 1920, Serial No. 398,031. Divided and this application filedJuly 21, 1920.r Serial No. 397,945.

of the striker and the body-part carrying they jjiercussion-cap.v Thismoving apartis effected under the action of aspring whose tension can beso adjusted that it shall be able to expand, in view of the cooking ofthe striker, only from the instant when the counteraction of theresistance offered by the air to the progress of the projectile, hasbecome suiciently reduced, which will take place only at a point of thetrajectory at which the cooking can take. place without inconvenience.

In other words, according to this invention, a recoil movement ofdetermined extent, has to be performed by the striker before it can makean entering or return movement capable of causing the tiring. For thepurpose, segments that constitute a shoulder for the striker and preventthe latter from moving toward't-he percussioncap, are in their turnprevented from moving out of the way because they are held by beingsituated between the fuse body and the striker body so long as thestriker has not made the desired recoil movement. This application is adivision of my application filed Mar. 31, 1919, Sr. No. 286,489, renewedJuly 21, 1920, Sr. No. 398,031, directed to the constructional formshown in Figures 9 to 14, inclusive, of said former application. In thedrawings, in which similar reference characters designate correspondingparts,-

F ig. l is a partial longitudinal section of the fuse on the line I-I ofFig. 6;

Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, are sections similar to Fig. 1, showing theparts of the fuse in various positions of operation;

the cap-carrier previous -to a recoil move-.-

ment of a determined extentby the striker preliminary to cooking.

To such end the striker C bearsagainst theV displaceable segments Finterposed between the shoulder E of the'im'pact head and ther nose A-of the .body-part. Thesefsegments are seated infthe forward reduced partC2 of thestriker-'s'hank and have rearward proections F formin auxiliarretainino'v members, extending into lthe bore of the body-part to beengaged between the strikershank and the -wall of the bore. The segmentsso arranged are held against displacement until there is suliicientseparation be-` tween the shoulder E and the nose A as to permit theclearance of the bore by the auX- iliary retaining extension F. Thisseparation is caused during the flight of the projectile by the recoilof the striker brought about by mechanism actuated by spring, pressureand inertia, the length of the recoilto accomplish the purpose beingdetermined. When' this. recoil takes place, the segments F are djs.placed by the centrifugal action imparted byby the distance H (F ig.

the' rotation of the projectile on its longitudinal axis.

While at rest (Fig. 1), all prematuremovement of the striker C towardthe cap-'- carrier B is prevented by the segments F interposed betweenthe shoulder E of the irnpact head and the nose A of the fuse bodypart.Premature forward movement of the striker, with the resulting release ofthe segments, is prevented by the two opposite bolts I movable in thecounter-ring M slidable on the striker-shank in the bore of thebodypart. These bolts are normally pressed inward to engage theintermediate reduced part C3 of the striker-shank by the spring Iencircling the bolts and the counter-ring,

' ment of the .two members.

these members having an annular groove m to receive the spring.

4The bolts are held in locked engagement with the striker-shank by thesafety sleeve J movable on the striker-shank within the bore of the fusebody-part. This sleeve is normally pressed forward by the spring Gcompressed between the rear end of the sleeve and the cap-carrier B.With the sleeve pressed forward, its -front end extends over the rearend of the counter-ring M, the contacting faces of the sleeve andcounterring being out away to permit such engage- In extending over thecounter-ring, the sleeve also extends over the bolts I and the latterare held against outward movement. So arranged, the forward end of thesleeve engages a shoulder on the forward end of the counterring and theforward end of the counterring engages a shoulder on the wall of thebore in the fuse body-part. These several engagements limit the forwardmovement of Athe sleevel and `counter-ring against the thrust:of--thevs'pring G. f Y

lVith the segments interposed between the shoulder E of the-impact headand with the bolts I in engagement with-the reduced part Ca of thestriker-shank and locked in such engagement by the overlapping sleeve J,there can be no premature-rearward movement of the striker to explodethe cap on the carrier B, and i there can be vno 'premature forwardmovement yof the striker to free the displaceable segments F to permitsubsequent premature firing.

When the projectile is fired from the gun, the sleeve J, having a'suitably determined f mass for such purpose, by its inertia lags behindin the bore ofthe fuse body-.part to the position shown in Fig. 2 andcompresses the spring G. In this relatively rearward movement of thesleeve it slides off the counter-ring M and travels to the rear of thebore. As the sleeve moves rearward, the counter-ring, also by itsinertia, tends to follow the sleeve, but is held back by the bolts Iengaging the striker-shank. rIhe counter- '1 ring is held until thesleeve clears the bolts and, when this happens, the counter-ring alsomoves to the rear and forces the bolts I over the 'chamferc (Fig. 2) onthe striker-shank. The camming action between the chamfer i and thebeveled edges of the bolts forces the latter outward against the actionof the spring I and thereby releases the counterring from thestriker-shank to follow the sleeve J. As the counter-ring moves rearvward the bolts register with the reduced part C of the striker-shank andare forced into engagement with the same by the spring I. The length ofthe reduced part C is such as to provide suiiicient travel for the'bolts therein and to permit the counter-ring t0r move into engagementwith the sleeve J at the rear of the bore, as shown in Fig. 3. Soengaged, the sleeve holds the bolts in locked engagement with thereduced part C of the striker-shank.

The position of the sleeve and counterring in the rear end of the boreof the fuse body-part compressing the spring G, as shown in Fig. 3, willbe maintained until the 'diminishing acceleration of the dischargedprojectile is predominated by the force of the spring to overcome theinertia or lagging effect of the sleeve and counterring. lVhen thisoccurs the spring forces forward the sleeve and engaged counterringuntil the bolts I bear against the shoulder o' (Fig. ll) on the striker.The bolts cannot ride over this shoulder as they are held againstOutward movement by the overlapping sleeve J. By this engagement of thebolts with the shoulder, any further outward movement of `the sleeve andcounterring, throu h the action ofthe spring, will be imparte to the.striker. AS the predominance of the spring increases, the inertia of thestriker will also be overcome and the en.- gaged parts will Vbe forced-forwardin-the bore ofthe .fuse Abody-,part until the front end of thecounter-ring 'engages the shoulder on the wall of Vthe -bore as shown inFig. 4. This forward or recoil movement of the striker, which isslightly in excess of the distance H (Fig. 3), carries theretainingexf.tension F of the segments F clear of the bore of the fuse body-part andthe separation of the shoulder E and the nose A is 100 such as to permitthe escape of the segments through the centrifugal action-imparted bythe rotation of the projectile. lVith the segments displaced, thestriker is cocked, ready for impact with the target, as shown 105 inFig. 4. When the projectile strikes thetarget, the impact on the head ofthe striker drives the latter into the bore of the fuse body-part todetonate the percussion cap on the carrier B, the several parts assumingthe 110 position shown in Fig. 5.

Vhat I claim is 1. A percussion-fuse comprising a bodypart having anaxial bore with a cap-carrier at the'rear end of said bore, a strikerhav- 115 ing a shank movable in said axial bore and provided with ashouldered impact head, displaeeable segments interposed between theimpact head and the nose of the fuse body-part to prevent prematurerearward 120 movement of the striker onto the cap-carrier, and meansoperated during the flight of the discharged projectile for movingforward the striker to cock the same preliminary to impact on thetarget, the forward 125 movement of the striker relative to the fusebody-part releasing the segments to be detached by the centrifugalaction imparted `by the rotation of the projectile to permit thesubsequent rearward movement of the 130 striker onto the cap-carrierresulting' from the-impact of the head on the target.

2. A percussion-fuse comprising a bodypart having an axial bore with acap-carrier at the rear end of said bore, a striker having a shoulderedimpact head and a shank movable in said axial vbore, said shank having areduced part adjacent to said head,-displace able segments interposedbetween the impact head and the nose of the fuse body-part and seated inthe reduced part of the strikershank and having retaining projectionsextending into the mouth of the axial bore,

said segments operating to prevent prema- -permit thesubsequentlrearward movement of the striker'onto the cap-carrier resulting' fromthe impact ofthe head on the target.l

3, A percussion-fuse comprising a body-Y part having van axial bore witha leap-carrier at the rear end of said bore,a striker having an impacthead and a shank movable in said axialv bore, displaceable segmentsinterposed between the fuse body-part and the/striker to-preventpremature rearward movement of the striker onto the cap-carrier, a

counter-ring slidable on the striker-shank and having a limited forwardmovement inv the axial bore7 spring-pressed bolts carried by thecounter-ring to engage a reduced part of the striker-shank lwith thecounter-ring at the forward limit of its movement inthe axial bore andthe striker-shank at the rearward limit of its movement as determined bythe interposed segments to prevent pre- "mature forward movement of thestriker,

said counter-ring by its inertia during the flight of thedischargedprojectile moving rearward in the axial bore to release the bolts fromthe striker-shank, and means op- "erating during the iight of theprojectile for moving the strikerforward to ,release the segments to bedetached by the centrifugall action imparted by the rotation of theprojectile to permit subsequent rearward movement of the striker ontothe cap-carrier resulting from impact of the head on the target.

4. A percussion-fuse comprising a bodypart having an axial bore with acap-carrier at the rear end of said bore, a striker having an impacthead and a shank movable in said axial bore, displaceable segmentsinterposed between the fuse body-part and the striker to preventpremature rearward movement of the striker onto the capcarrier7 acounter-ring slidable on the striker-shank and having a limited forwardmovement the axial bore, spring-pressed bolts carried by thecounter-ring to engage a reduced partof the striker-shank with thecounter-ring at the forward limit of its movement in the axialbore andthe strikershank at the rearward limit of its movement as determined bythe interposed segments to prevent premature forward movement of thestriker, a sleeve slidable on the strikershank'within the axial bore andat the rear of the counter-ring, and a cocking spring normally pressingthe sleeve and counterring forward, said sleeve and counter-ring at thedischarge of the prjectile by their inertiafmoving rearward against theaction of the-cocking spring7 the counter-ring in its rearward movementdisengaging the spring-pressed bolts from the forward reduced part ofthe striker-shank and'moving them into .engagement-with a rear reducedpart of said striker-shank, said spring during-theiiight oftheprojectile and at'the lessening ,acceleration` thereofpredominatingthe'iinertiaxofrthe: sleeve and counterring `to force lthe .same forwardtogether with. the striker-shank engaged? by the ybolts carried -:by thecounter-ring, said forward movement of. the striker-shank operating tocock the striker and to free the segments to permit the displacementv'of the same through the .centrifugal'faction imparted by the ro-vtation-.of-the projectile7 the ldisplacement of the: segments permittingsubsequent rearward-movement of the striker onto the capcarrierresulting from the impact of the head on the target.

5. A percussion-fuse comprising a bodypart having an axial bore withaAcap-carrier at' the rear'end of said bore, a striker having an impacthead and a shank movable in said axial bore, displaceable segmentsinterposed between the fuse body-part and the striker to preventpremature rearward movement of the striker onto the cap-carrier, acounterring slidableon the striker-shank and having a limited' forwardmovement in the axial bore, spring-pressed bolts carried by thelcounter-ring toV engage a reduced part of thestriker-shank with thecounter-ring at the forward limit of its movement in the axial bore andthe striker-shank at the rearward limit of its movement as determined bytheinterposed segments to prevent premature forward' movement of thestriker, a sleeve slidable on the striker-shank within the axial bore ofthe fuse body-part and adapted to move into engagement with thecounter-ring and to overlap the springpressed bolts to lock the latterin engagement with the striker-shank, and a cooking spring normallypressing the sleeve forward into overlapping engagement with thecounter-ring to lock the bolts and to press the counter-ring to thelimit of its forward movement, said sleeve at the discharge of theprojectile moving rearward by its inertia against the action of thecocking spring to free the counter-ring and to release the bolts, thedisengaging counter-ring by its inertia also moving rearward to engageagain the sleeve held by the compressed cocking spring, the counter-ringin its rearward movement disengaging the spring-pressed bolts from thereduced part of the strikershank and positioning said bolts to engage arear reduction of the counter-shank, said cocking spring during theflight of the projectile and the lessening acceleration thereofpredominating the inertia of the engaged sleeve and counter-ring to moveforward said engaged members with the sleeve overlapping the bolts tohold the latter in locked engagement with the rear reduction of thestriker-shankso that the continued predominance of the cocking springthrough said intervening mechanism :will also move for-- ward thestriker to cocked position, the forward movement of the strikeroperatingto release the djsplaceable segments to respond tothecentrifugal action imparted by the rotation'of the projectile, thedisplacement of the segments permitting the striker on impact with thetarget to be driven into the fuse body-part onto the cap-carrier.

6. A percussion-fuse comprising a bodypart having an axial bore with acap-carrier at the rear end of said bore, a striker having a-shankmovable in the axial bore and a. shouldered impact head projectingbeyond the nose of the body-part, said striker-shank having forward,intermediate and rear reductions with the intermediate reduction ofrestricted length and the rear reduction elongated as compared with theintermediate reduction, displaceable segments interposed between thenose of the body-part and the shoulder of the impact head and seated inthe forward reduction of the strikershank to prevent premature rearwardmovement of the striker in the body-part, said segments having auxiliaryretaining projections extending into the bore of the bodypart, acounter-ring movable on the strikershank within said axial bore, theforward movement ofthe counter-ring being limited by a shoulder on thewall of the axial bore, bolts movable in the counter-ring to engage theintermediate and rear reductions in the shank of the striker, a springnormally pressing the bolts toward the shank of the striker, said boltsengaging the intermediate reduction with the counter-ring at the forwardlimit of its movement and with the striker at the rearward limit of itsmovement as restricted by said interposed segments to prevent prematureforward movement of the striker, a sleeve slidable on the shank of thestriker within the axial bore of the bodypart, and a cocking springnormally pressing said sleeve forward to engage the counter-ring topress the latter to the limit of its forward movement, said sleeve inits engaged position with the counter-ring overlapping the bolts to holdthe latter in locked engagement with the intermediate reduction of thestriker-shank to hold the striker against forward movement, said sleeveat the discharge of the projectile moving rearward by its inertiaagainst the action of the cocking spring to free the counter-ring and torelease the bolts, the disengaged counterring by its inertia also movingrearward to engage again the sleeve held by the compressed cockingspring, the counter-ring-in its rearward movement disengaging thespring-pressed bolts from the intermediate reduction of thestriker-shank and positioning said bolts to engage the rear reduction ofthe striker-shank, said cocking Spring during the flight of theprojectile and the lessening acceleration thereof predominating theinertia of the engaged sleeve and counter-ring to move forward saidengaged members with the sleeve overlapping the bolts to hold the latterin locked engagement with the rear reduction of the strikershank so thatthe continued predominance of the cocking. spring through said inter-vvening mechanism will also move forward the striker to cocked position,the forward movement of the striker separating the shouldered impacthead from the nose of the fuse body-part to free the displaceablesegments to permit their escape through the centrifugal action impartedby the rotation of the projectile, the displacement of the segmentspermitting the striker on impact with the target to be driven into thefusev body-part onto the cap-carrier.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

EUGNE SCHNEIDER.

Witnesses ANDR MosTICKnR, CLEMENT EDWARDS.

